Electrically-operated mine-door-actuating mechanism.



NO- 829.974. PATENTED SEPT. 4! 1906.

J. G. LINCOLN.

ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED MINE DOOR'AGTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED .AiR. 10, 1903.

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. J. G. LINCOLN. ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED MINE DOOR AOTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED APR.10,1903.

PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. LINCOLN,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'TO THE LINCOLN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. ELECTFIlCALLY-OPERATED MlNE-DOOR-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed April 10, 1903. Serial No. 151,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. LINooLN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of bio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrically-Operated Mine- Door-Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated. applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to electrically-operated mechanism for performing work such as the opening of mine-doors at the mouth of shafts or tunnels, operating vehicle-brakes, or other similar work, its object being to effect the performance of such function automatically and by safe and efiiciently-operating electrical means.

The invention consists of means hereinaf ter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents in side elevation a device embodying my invention as particularly applied to the automatic operation of mine-doors. Fig. II represents, on an enlarged scale, a plan view, and Fig. III a side elevation, of a magnetically-operated switch utilized in my abovementioned invention as so particularlyapplied. Fig. III represents a detail diagrammatic view of said switch. Fig. IV represents a diagrammatic plan View of a track, mining-car, and mechanism automatically controlling, through the medium of the car and track, the operation of opening and closing a mine-door.

I shall first describe in a general way the construction, arrangement, and operation of the entire mechanism and the parts concerned in the application of my invention to the automatic operation of a mine-door.

One of the rails A is provided near the outside of the inner door with a section a, insulated electrically from the main-rail portion and from the rail-bed. This section is electrically connected, by means of a conductor 6, with an intermediate terminal b of an electromagnetic device B. This device B has two other terminals 6 and b and is pro vided with two coils in series wound so as to neutralize each other, Fig. III so that when the two terminals 6 and b are in the circuit no magnetic effect in the form of motion would be produced upon an armature. When, however, one coil is cut out of the circuit by bringing terminal 6 into the circuit, an active field is produced capable of moving an armature placed therein. Such an armature is provided, as at C, Fig. IV, which is hinged and provided with four contacts 0, that are adapted to engage four contacts a, secured to the outside of the casing of the magnet device B. These contacts are connected so as to be in series when in engagement, as indicated in the drawings. Terminal b is connected, by means of a conductor d, including a resistance D, with a source of current, such as the trolley-wire E, and terminal b is connected, by means of a conduc= tor d, with the other rail A of the track, and so grounded. The resistance D prevents current from passing through the circuit just described from a source of high tension, such as a trolley-wire, sufiicient to render a shock dangerous which might be imparted to a man or animal unpremeditatedly making a connection across the rails A and section a.

A second circuit is provided including the trolley-wire, the contacts 0 and c, and a magnetic operating mechanism G, connected with the mine-door and the rail A. This mechanism G, normally inoperative, is rendered operative by the closing of the circuit in which it is located, and this is accomplished by attracting the armature C, such action being accomplished by closing the circult including the rail-section a. It will hence be seen that there is a normally live circuit, including the resistance D, the neutralizing magnetic device B, and the rail A. A car now passing along the track upon reaching the section a completes the circuit including the conductor 1) through its wheels and axle, thus cutting out one coil of the device B. This action renders the magnetic effect of the circuit operative, the armature C is attracted, and a current passes through the circuit including the operating mechanism G, which, becoming operative, opens the mine-door. The described arrangement of the circuit including the resistance D and insulated railsection removes the danger which would be imparted to thedevice resulting from shocks which might otherwise be imparted to men or animals passing along the track when the voltage in the main E is such as is usually employed. It will be seen that in the described arrangement, where the grounded wire it permits the current to pass continually and the insulated rail-section is connected therewith intermediately of the main and the ground, the voltage at the rail is prevented from rising above a fixed. point, which is made such as to remove all danger resulting from shocks. The resistance D may or may not be utilized, its use being advisable under certain conditions. In the described arrangement the said resistance reduces the current to a strength sufficient to properly operate the magnet-switch B. The principle of operation of the device would, however, be in no wise affectedwere the resistance omitted, the essential features of the arrangement consisting of a circuit allowing the continuous passage of current from the mam to the ground and the connection of the insulated rail-sectlon with such circuit at a point intermediate of such main and the ground. The said mechanism G embodies a suitable electromagnet, to the cores of which is secured a ring or eye 9, to which is secured a cable h, which operates a roller h, from which a flexible door H is hung, as shown in Fig. I. This door is made flexible and is of suflicient weight to norm ally hold the cores of the elec tromagnet in their withdrawn. position. Being in such position, let it be assumed that a car passes over the track and the current is caused to flow, as previously described. The cores are drawn inwardly, and so cause the door to be raised, the whole current passing through the coils of the electromagnet. The car now having passed the door, the current is broken and the cores are pulled upwardly by the weight of the door, such cores acting as counterweights therefor.

The operating mechanism G, which will be found to be of particular advantage in the operation of mine-doors and many other kinds of mechanism, will form the subject-matter of a separate application upon electromagnets to be subsequently filed and will be described in detail in such a plication.

Other modes 0 applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out tinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination of a mine-door, dooroperating mechanism, an electrical circuit for controlling such mechanism, a switch for and disopening and closing said circuit, and a switch operating circuit including a single insulated rail-section. only.

2. The combination of a roller, a flexible door secured to said roller, electrically-operated means for rotating said roller, and an electrical circuit for controlling said means, such circuit containing an insulated rail-section.

3. The combination of a minedoor, electrically-operated door-operating mechanism,

an electrical circuit for controlling such mechanism, and containing a single insulated railsection only.

4:. The combination of a roller, a flexible door secured to said roller, electrically-open ated roller-operating mechanism, an electrical circuit containing a switch and a sec- 0nd circuit containing means for actuating said switch, such second circuit containing an insulated rail-section.

5. The combination of a source of currentsupply, passed therethrough continuously from said source, and an insulated rail-section so connected to said circuit that its potential is less than that of said circuit.

6. The combination of a main, a grounded conductor connected therewith, an insulated rail-section, and a conductor connecting such rail-section with said grounded conductor at such a point that the voltage or electric pressure between said rail and the ground shall be less than that between said main and the ground.

7. The combination of a normally live circuit, a magnetically-operated switching de vice including two oppositely-wound magnetic coils in series, each arranged to neutralize the magnetic eflect of the other, a second circuit including operating means and controlled by said switching device, a track having an insulated section and a conductor connected with said first-named circuit at a point intermediate of the two coils and also connected with said insulated railsection.

8. The combination of mine-door-operata circuit arranged to have current ing means, a circuit for controlling the operation of said means, a circuit for controlling said first-named circuit and arranged to have current pass continuously therethrough, and an insulated rail-section in parallel with such last-named circuit.

9. The combination of a source of currentsupply, mine-door-operating means, a circuit for controlling such means and connected with said source, a circuit containing a switch for controlling said first-named circuit connected with said source and arranged to have current pass continuously from such source therethrough, and an insulated rail-section in parallel with such last-named circuit.

10. The combination of a source of ourrent-supply, mine-door-operating means, a circuit for controlling such means and connected with said source, a grounded conductor connected with said source, and an insulated rail-section in parallel with said conductor.

11. In means for opening and closing mineshafts, the combination of a roller, a flexible door secured to such roller, and automatically-o erating means arranged to rotate such r0 ler, and arranged to counterweight the door.

12. In means for opening and closing mineshafts, the combination of a roller, a flexible door secured to such roller, and automatically-operating electric means arranged to rotate such roller, and arranged to counterweight the door.

13. In an electrically-operated mine-gate, the combination with a trolley-wire and conducting-rails, of means connected in a normally open circuit with said trolley-wire and rails adapted to raise the gate upon closing the circuit, and means adapted to close said circuit upon the passing of a car to actuate the gate-raising means.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-Wire, and conducting-rail, an electricallyoperated minegate comprising a supporting-frame and ourtain carried thereby, electrically operated means carried by the frame adapted to raise the curtain, and means for completing a circuit therewith through the trolley-wire and rail.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-Wire, an insulated oonducting-rail, a curtain, and elec trically-operated means for raising the curtain connected with the rail and trolley-wire, operative upon the passage of a car.

16. The combination With a mine-gate, of a normally open electrical circuit containing an insulated rail-section, adapted to be closed by a car, and means operative on closing said circuit to open the gate.

17. In combination with a roller, a flexible curtain secured thereon, mechanism for rotating said roller, and an electrical circuit having an insulated rail-section therein controlling said mechanism.

18. In a mine-gate, the combination with a trolley-wire, an insulated conducting-rail, a roller, a curtain mounted thereon, and means for electrically operating the roller connected in circuit with said trolley-wire and rail.

, Signed by me this 31st day of March, 1903.

JOHN C. LINCOLN. Attest:

A. E. MERKEL, G. W. SAYwELL. 

